Low light & bokeh

MJP · September 17, 2013

I find low light shooting using manual focus the most challenging and exciting form of photography. I really do not like flash photography and once you understand the usable ISO range of you camera and the characteristics of your manual focus lenses you can start producing some fascinating works.

I found an SMC Pentax-K 50mm f/1.2 in the UK for £350 and brought it with me this time. It's heavy, but it was worth it.

ETatBKK · September 17, 2013

same here ! I like the ambient light from the scene, it is a matter of authenticity. the ambient light renders the mood and tone and tells the story of the picture.

your first picture, show the fuzziness of the ambient light, from all directions. together with the rendering on the wall, it is something real. on the 3rd picture, the subtle light reflection on the woman's face, also in her hand.

then the down side, the modern multi-coated digital camera lenses are all tuned for sharpness with higher contrast, they are not very good for low light environment.

next to that, slow shutter and high ISO, a combination for blurry images, especially I like taking indoor portrait.

MJP · September 17, 2013

same here ! I like the ambient light from the scene, it is a matter of authenticity. the ambient light renders the mood and tone and tells the story of the picture.

your first picture, show the fuzziness of the ambient light, from all directions. together with the rendering on the wall, it is something real. on the 3rd picture, the subtle light reflection on the woman's face, also in her hand.

then the down side, the modern multi-coated digital camera lenses are all tuned for sharpness with higher contrast, they are not very good for low light environment.

next to that, slow shutter and high ISO, a combination for blurry images, especially I like taking indoor portrait.

You're spot on regarding modern lenses. I have a Pentax 31mm f1.8 Limited and although it's a 1990 design it really is utterly useless for low light which is a great disappointment especially considering this lens retails for £1200 in the UK. It turned out to be my most hated lens. I really, really hate the thing. A better option may be the new Sigma 35mm f1.4 Art lens. I'm going to wait for the price to fall, but it is on the shopping list. From what I've seen it can achieve unparalleled sharpness yet retains creamy bokeh.

The photos above were taken with a Pentax-K f1.2 which was manufactured in the mid-1970's and although it's an SMC lens the sharpness and especially the bokeh simply shine.

For any Pentaxians out there, the one lens I do recommend is the Pentax-M 50mm f1.7. You can get these on ebay for 50 quid. They are golden. Mine is mint and ironically for all the many thousands of pounds worth of lenses I have, this 50 quid 50mm is by far my favorite.

MJP · September 17, 2013

With a tripod . . .

sunshine51 · September 18, 2013

I agree MJP. I have a Nikkor 58mm f1.2 that I bought way back in the early

80's second hand for about $150 at a now defunct camera shop in BKK.

Now it's valued at over $4K USD and are quite rare. Mind you..hand held

can be interesting to say the least however I use a cheapo lightweight

tripod or monopod when doing serious shooting. I have some old pix

from the film days with this lens...I'll scan em soon & put a few up.

MJP · September 18, 2013

I agree MJP. I have a Nikkor 58mm f1.2 that I bought way back in the early

80's second hand for about $150 at a now defunct camera shop in BKK.

Now it's valued at over $4K USD and are quite rare. Mind you..hand held

can be interesting to say the least however I use a cheapo lightweight

tripod or monopod when doing serious shooting. I have some old pix

from the film days with this lens...I'll scan em soon & put a few up.

Rare lenses, if you can find them cheap (car boot sale, people don't know) then you're onto a winner. The 1960's-1980's super fast 50's have all surged in price.

I think the ones going cheap now like Jupiter, Helios, Carl Zeiss Jena, Pentacon and Tair are worth buying at the moment. These are very cheap kings of bokeh and will become increasingly rare over time. M42 screw mount adapters are now ubiquitous.

I'm after a Tair 11A, 20 blades!

Edited September 18, 2013 by MJP

FracturedRabbit · September 18, 2013

Russian lenses are indeed great for crazy bokeh at crazy cheap prices. This was taken with a Helios 103 with a Kiev Rangefinder mount, strapped to a Micro Four Thirds adapter on a Panasonic GX1:

P1150957 by pattayadays.com, on Flickr

I have two copies of the Helios 103; which enabled me to take a shot of the Helios 103, with the Helios 103! More bokeh ensued.

P1100882 by pattayadays.com, on Flickr

C-mount cine and security cameras lenses are cheap fun too. This was taken with a Navitar 75mm F1.3:

P1240846 by pattayadays.com, on Flickr

For ultimate low-light bokehliciousness, there is the Voigtlander 25mm F0.95. Destroys Xmas trees.

P1120155 by pattayadays.com, on Flickr